The Arkansas Tech University Music Department will present the University choirs in a Winter Concert today at 7:30 p.m. in Witherspoon Auditorium. The concert will include the women of the University singers under the direction of student conductor Megan Ellenburg; the men of the University singers, the University Singers, Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers under the direction of Gary Morris, and accompanied by Sue Vance. The Dover High School Madrigals and Ladies Ensemble under the direction of Carrie Taylor and accompanied by Missy Hines will perform as special guest of the music department.

The University Women will sing Nigra Sum by Pablo Casals and the University Men will sing a set of three sea shanties arranged by Ron Jeffers. The 60-voice University Singers will perform The Cloths of Heaven by Z. Randall Stroope and the unofficial national anthem of Italy, Va Pensieror from the opera "Nabucco" by Giuseppe Verdi.

The Dover High School Ladies Ensemble will sing the "Laughing Song" by Lloyd Pfautsch and the Madrigals will perform Psalm 23 By Paul Basler featuring Erin Futterer as French horn soloist.

The 23-voice ATU Chamber Choir will present selections including "Sing Me to Heaven!" by Daniel Gawthrop, "Psalm 100" by Felix Mendellssohn-Bartholdy, and an arrangement of the sea shanty, "The Drunken Sailor" by the Swedish composer Robert Sund.

The 54-voice Concert Chorale will be perform "O Rejoice in the Lord" by M.A. Balakireff, "The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee" by Jean Berger, "Laudate Jehovam, Omnes Gentes" by Georg Phillip Telemann featuring Ken Futterer and Lauryn Wood on oboe and Katie Nickles on bassoon. The highlight of the program will be the performance of "There will be Rest" by Frank Techelli. Techelli is best known for his instrumental compositions, but choir director Gary Morris said, "based on the popularity of this composition published in 2000, we will see many more."

The finale of the concert will be the performance of "John the Revelator" arranged by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory. According to the arrangers this piece was first recorded between 1927 and 1930 by Blind Willie Johnson - Texan, street-corner evangelist, and self-taught master of the slide guitar. A decade later, the piece turned up as a regular staple in the repertoire of Delta Blues legend Son House.

The arrangers have tried to make optimal use of the Blues scales employed by Johnson and House. This piece promises to be a favorite of the audience.